Things haven't always come easy for
Rossum, who opened up about the struggles of growing up the only child
of a single mother and her musical education after she joined the
Metropolitan Children's Chorus at the age of 7.

'It was all a magical fantasy world, that kind of journey I've always loved that you can get from a good book,' she said.

As a child, Rossum learned to sing in
20 languages and performed with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and
Dolly Parton as well as acting on stage alongside Aidan Quinn and Janet
McTeer.

Leather clad: A guest left clutching a bouquet of pretty flowers which were presumably at the event

'I realized the decisions I was making were going to affect my whole life,' she said. 'I was conscious it could all disappear.'

But after gaining celebrity from her
performances in the ABC TV movie The Audrey Hepburn story and the movie
adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera, Rossum admitted that she made a
series of bad professional - and personal - choices.

'I talked myself into projects and relationships that weren't always right for me,' she stated.

Now though, she's fully confident in trusting her gut.

'If the milk doesn't smell good, don't drink it. It can be that simple.'